A Peachy Mess Read online

  “Stephanie?” Sam asked.

  Michelle nodded. “The woman's body was covered in bandages covering severe burns,” she explained. “I'm sorry Sam. I know you loved your wife. Her body... I'll drive you down to the morgue so you can identify her body.”

  Momma Peach watched tears fall from Sam's eyes. The poor man had been putting on such a brave face, but his heart was very much broken. “You will heal in time,” Momma Peach promised Sam.

  Sam nodded, wiped at his tears, and looked at Michelle. “Okay,” he said, “I guess you can drive me to the morgue.”

  “I'll be back later,” Michelle promised Momma Peach.

  “I’ll be here,” Momma Peach promised. She watched Michelle walk out of the kitchen with Sam at her side. Old Mac climbed up onto the baking table and looked at Momma Peach. “Well, Old Mac,” Momma Peach said in a heavy voice, “Mr. Sam is going to need lots of time to let his heart heal, but we have time, don't we, old friend?” Old Mac seemed to nod his head yes in a spider kind of way.

  Momma Peach heard the phone ring from the front room and decided to take the call. She left the kitchen and answered the phone on the fourth ring. “Hello, Momma Peach.”

  “Well hello, Momma Peach,” a sly, tricky voice said.

  Momma Peach narrowed her eyes. “What do you want, you turkey?” she asked the caller.

  The voice laughed and she could practically smell the cigar smoke-filled pool hall blaring with jazz music where he stood. “Now is that any way to talk to an old friend, Momma Peach?”

  “I don't like some of my old friends,” Momma Peach informed the caller. “I don't like your kind, you turkey.”

  The caller laughed again. “Now Momma Peach, we go way back. There's no sense in talking rudeness in my ears, gal. I called you to say hello, that's all.”

  “You called me because you need something, you skunk,” Momma Peach said and rolled her eyes. “What do you want from me, huh? Money?”

  The caller didn't respond. The phone went dead. Momma Peach made a funny face. “Something tells me that I’m about to get tangled up in a mess again.” Momma Peach walked back into her kitchen and continued to wash up her baking pans. She began to hum a soft Christian tune that brought peace to her heart and mind as she thought about all of her babies, including her new baby who was suffering from a broken heart. Life sure was full of a lot of twists and turns, yes sir and yes ma’am. Old Mac agreed.

  Far away in St. Louis, an aging black man ducked down behind a pool table and hid from two large men wearing black coats. “Oh, Momma Peach, Old Joe needs your help. Yes, I sure do. I’m in a world of trouble.” The two men in black coats searched the pool hall, spotted Old Joe behind the pool table, and pointed at him. Old Joe got to his feet and high tailed out the back door into a rainy alley. The two men gave chase. “Oh, give me strength,” Old Joe begged and got his old legs working. “I’m coming, Momma Peach. Yes, I sure am!”

  Dear Reader,

  * * *

  Hi there. Thank you for reading.

  I hope you’ll leave a review and/or rating at the retail website where you purchased it, I appreciate you and your feedback.

  * * *

  Thanks again,

  Wendy Meadows

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  Momma’s Recipe

  Homemade Peach Pie

  Filling Ingredients

  5 cups sliced peaches

  1 tablespoon lemon juice

  ¼ cup all purpose flour

  ¼ cup cornstarch

  ¾ cup white sugar

  ¼ brown sugar

  ½ teaspoon cinnamon

  ¼ teaspoon salt

  2 tablespoons butter

  1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract

  Egg wash made from 1 egg yolk mixed with 2 tablespoons water

  Pie Crust

  2 ½ cups all purpose flour

  2 teaspoons sugar

  ¾ teaspoon salt

  1 cup cold butter

  6 tablespoons ice water

  ½ cup buttermilk

  Directions for Pie Crust

  In food processor, combine flour, sugar and salt. Add cold butter and pulse. Transfer mixture to bowl and add buttermilk. Slowly add in ice water and mix with a fork to combine. Transfer dough to a floured surface and knead. Cut dough into two pieces for the top and bottom. Place in refrigerator until filling is ready.

  Directions for Filling

  In a large bowl, combine peaches, sugars, cornstarch, lemon juice, cinnamon, flour, salt and vanilla.

  * * *

  Directions to Assemble

  Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Roll out one half of the dough and place it in the bottom of the pie pan. Brush dough with half of the egg wash mixture, reserving the other half for the top crust. Pour peach mixture in pan and dot with the two tablespoons of butter. Place top crust over mixture and brush with the rest of the egg wash mixture. Cut 4 slits in the top crust. Bake at 450 degrees for 10 minutes and then lower temperature to 350 degrees and bake for an additional 30 minutes.

  About the Author

  Wendy Meadows is an emerging author of cozy mysteries. She lives in “The Granite State” with her husband, two sons, two cats and lovable Labradoodle.

  When she isn’t working on her stories she likes to tend to her flower garden, relax with adult coloring and play video games with her family.

  Get in Touch with Wendy

  www.wendymeadows.com

  [email protected]

  Also by Wendy Meadows

  Maple Hills Cozy Series

  Raspberry Truffle Murder

  Peppermint Chocolate Murder

  Blueberry Truffle Murder

  Sea Salt Caramel Murder

  Georgia Peach Truffle Murder

  Gold Flake Chocolate Murder

  Coconut Chocolate Murder

  Turkey Truffle Murder

  Christmas Chocolate Murder

  Nether Edge Cozy Series

  Murder & Spice

  Where Pigs Fly

  Ink-Slinger Murder

  Chocolate Cozy Mystery Series

  Cream of Sweet

  Itsy-Bitsy Murder

  Fudgement Day

  A’s in the Hole

  Sugar and Price

  Alaska Cozy Mystery Series

  The Snowman Killer

  Deep in the Snow

  Snow Happens

  Snow is not the Time

  Sweetfern Harbor Series

  Posies and Poison

  Dead in Bed